Jun. 27, 2007

After his fourth album in three years, Ryan Adams takes a breather. / Provided to the Reno Gazette-Journal

Provided to the Reno Gazette-Journal

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Ryan Adams

"Easy Tiger"; Lost Highway

3 stars (out of 4)

The prolific alt-country poet's ninth full-length studio album arrives after a lull (by his standards -- three albums in 2005 and none the year after, though his tune-packed Web site testifies to a restless recording habit). The result is this disciplined, bordering on slick, set of 13 melodic, smartly crafted keepers, from the twangy "Pearls on a String," to a somewhat dreary Sheryl Crow duet, "Two." Adams is best on up-tempo tracks, but even the laments prove engaging thanks to his heartbreaking tenor and the crack musicianship of The Cardinals.

Recommended if you like: Wilco; Son Volt; Jeff Buckley

-- Edna Gundersen, USA Today

Bon Jovi

"Lost Highway"; Island

3 stars (out of 4)

Jon Bon Jovi's warm vocals anchor the band's 10th studio album, which bears a faint twang and plenty of story songs about plain folks and long drives. The sparingly applied Nashville stylings have an authentic feel, but the Jersey boys haven't abandoned the fat choruses, arena-sized hooks and flashy ax-slinging that made them rock heroes on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line.

RIYL: Collective Soul; Big & Rich; Garth Brooks

-- Gundersen

The Bravery

"The Sun and the Moon"; Island

3 ½ stars (out of 4)

Along with bands like The Killers and Franz Ferdinand, New York's The Bravery joined the new-wave revival of a few years back with its dance-club beats and heavy synths. The Bravery was also the least interesting of that period. On its sophomore outing, the band makes a stylistic leap. Casting aside the synths for the most part, the band made "The Sun and the Moon" with catchy hooks in mind. And while there's nothing groundbreaking here, there are plenty of hooks to be found. Singer Sam Endicott's vocals can be a bit over-the-top in Cure-style earnestness, but it's hard not to sing along with the soaring melodies in anthems like "Believe" and "Time Won't Let Me Go." Or perhaps you'd rather whistle along on "Bad Sun" (yes, Peter Bjorn and John aren't the only ones whistling this year). It's a bit unfocused, from string-drenched ballads, to thumpy pop songs, but there's something to be said about songs that are instantly likeable, as opposed to those that need to grow on you.

RIYL: Hot Hot Heat; The Killers; The Cure

-- Jason Kellner, Reno Gazette-Journal

Robert Earl Keen

"Best"; Koch

1 star (out of 4)

A monkey throwing poo at a list of Texas singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen's work could splatter a better selection than "Best." The collection ignores entire albums and, on the albums it does tap, it picks the wrong songs.

Rather than discuss the few things it gets right, here are some of "Best's" screwups: no "Copenhagen," no "Five Pound Bass," no "Think It Over One Time," no "It's the Little Things," no "Then Came Lo Mein," no "What I Really Mean" and it picks the wrong live version of "Merry Christmas to the Family" (the limited edition single is far superior).

The idiocy of the selections makes me think this must be a contract filler so Keen can move to another label.

Nina Simone

Just Like a Woman: Nina Simone Sings Classic Songs of the '60s; RCA/Legacy

3 stars (out of 4)

Nina Simone was a singer whose heyday was in the 1960s, and she never fit any genre. That's because she has a jazz bent that often intentionally messes with the melodies that could've made her an even bigger star if she'd indulged them but wouldn't have made her music as memorable. As it is, she does soul, folk, gospel, blues and pop -- all in evidence on this compilation, and all cut with her jazz soul and defiant spirit.

If all this sounds like the music here is too avant-garde, it's not. It's just not easy, which is appropriate with these standards that could easily become soft and rotten in another's hands. The programming is perfect, with the songs flowing into each other.

Among the highlights are her street-soul take on "The Pusher," the weary folk of Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," and the depth she brings Barry Gibbs' "In the Morning" and "To Love Somebody." And her version of "Here Comes the Sun" is worthy of The Beatles.

Elvis Costello

“The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years”; Hip-O

4 stars (out of 4)

The songs on this collection range all the way from excellent to stone-cold classic. It’s the best Costello collection ever. His first one didn’t contain anything “King of America” and “Blood & Chocolate.” And “Very Best” is larded down with B-sides and songs from his lesser later CDs.

Actually, the inclusion of two merely very good songs keep this CD from perfection. “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea” is beloved but it’s not as good as “Less Than Zero” or especially “Mystery Dance.” And “New Lace Sleeves” can’t touch “I Hope You’re Happy Now” or especially “Jack of All Parades.” But 20 killer songs out of 22 isn’t bad for a CD, and everyone should have “Radio, Radio” and “(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” and “Alison” and “Every Day I Write the Book” and ...

RIYL: The Pernice Brothers, Randy Newman, Graham Parker, The Jam

— Robison

Frank Black

“93-03”; Cooking Vinyl

3 ½ stars (out of 4)

Frank Black got straight to work making solo albums when he disbanded the Pixies in 1993, and for many, it was hard to keep up with the prolific frontman. “93-03” captures songs from those 10 years and nine albums, running through his guitar rockers, spaced-out themes, social commentary and some of his more roots-based later work.

Most of his songs lean toward the melodic, but certainly not the wimpy — as evidenced in hook-filled rockers like “Men in Black,” “You Ain’t Me” and “Hermaphroditos, with a country twang that proved he wasn’t content to repeat the past.” His albums were spotty at times, but this collection shows he made some gems throughout that decade. A bonus disc of nine live tracks is included, but it doesn’t add much.

Get this to catch up if you want, but you’ll already be behind. He’s released two albums since 2003, and another one, under his Pixies moniker Black Francis, is due later this year. “93-03” includes the hidden track “Threshold Apprehension” from that album, which would have made the perfect noisy rocker from that Pixies reunion album that never happened.